PUTRAJAYA: The government is unable to forgive National Higher Education Corporation Fund (PTPTN) loans, said Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli.
He said opportunity to reform PTPTN was missed in 2013 and it was too late to do so now, as its debts had risen to around RM50 billion.
"Once you cross a certain number, we cannot do it anymore," he said at a press conference today.
He was asked by newsmen to elaborate on the promise of forgiving PTPTN loans.
The matter was brought up by Machang member of parliament Wan Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, who said in the Dewan Rakyat that Pakatan Harapan (PH) had promised to do so in its 15th General Election manifesto.
Rafizi said that he would refer to the Parliament hansard to check whether the question was about targeted loan forgiveness or across the board.
He said it was Pas that made the promise in the general election held in 2018.
"The message has to be sent to Perikatan Nasional (PN) MPs for them to look into the mirror and remind them not to politicise the issue.
"The PTPTN chairman (Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan) was from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu). The one who promised to forgive PTPTN loans was Pas in 2018.
"PH had said we have missed the window to reform PTPTN in the 2013 election," he said today.